Caster



W. F. HEROLD July 21, 1931.

CASTER Filed May 4, 1929 Inv/IIA T INVENTOR. WALTER FHERULD.

i Patented July 21, "1931 r- UNrrEn entrearr kss'ricj WALTER F.y HER/OLD, F 'UPPR MONTCLAIR, NW JERSEY, ASSIGNORT THE BAS- SICK COMPANY, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT,.A CORPORATION GF CONNECTICUT CASTER Application ined May 4, 192e.- serial-Naseosi;

The present `invention relates to improvements in casters,v particularly of the ballbearing type, andhas for an object-topr It is rparticularly'proposed to' provide a caster in whichball-bearings are provided `between the attaching baseplate andy the caster horn without any substantial increase in the height of the caster, and to this end I provide, in the present embodiment, a sheet metal horn top having a ball-race groove pressed therein and of a depth approximating the diameter of the balls, and l further provide an annular ball retaining and guide formation in the base plate forming'- a cooperating ball-race with the ball-race of the horn. Another object is to provide a downturned skirt flange on the horn which strengthens it and serves to conceal the pressed ball race formation in the horn. A further object is to provide a construction in which the center pin or stud is rigidly connected to the base plate, and further to provide a construction in which the length of the stud may be shortened to a great eX- tent, so that the leverage strain on th'e'pin and consequent loosening is reduced to a minimum.

,rl/Vith the above and other objects in'view,

embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawings, and these `embodiments will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the inven-` tion will be finally pointed out in the claim. y In the drawings y Y Fig. 1 is a side elevation of' a caster, ac-

ic'ording` to one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is section;

Fig. 8 is a plan View ofthe same;l

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the topof the horn, before assembly; and f.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation of a'modified form ofthe invention, in which the base plate is provided Vwith a pintle. i i

Similar reference characters indicatev cor` a vertical elevation, partly vin responding partsthroughout the several figures ofthe drawings. Y v

Referring tothe drawings, the caster, ac

cording tothe embodiment ofthe invention disclosed in Figs. "1 to Ll, comprises a horn 10, formed of sheet metal, and .in which the wheel-11 is mounted. The t-op portion 12 of the hornisV preferably of'circular planA and is provided with downwardly bent flange or skirt' portions 13 in substantial continuation of the hornsides, which are shaped to conform to this circular plan. A central aperture 14tis provided inthe topv portion 12, andbetween'this aperture and the outer i.

periphery there is provided a circular groove 15, outwardly spaced in concentric relation to the aperture, and inwardly spaced in con# centric relation to the periphery. The skirt` portion 13 greatly strengthens the horn,and further conceals the depressed ball-race.

The flatportion between the groove and the aperture is Adepressed with respect to the marginal rim portion surrounding the groove, so that the groove has itsA outer wall eX- tending upwardly lto a greater extent than its inner wall, the outer wall extending subl stantially above the central planeof the' balls while the innernwall and the flat inner por-V tionof theplate are below'this plane.- VIn the assembledV relationthe groove 15l constitutesa lower ball race, 'as willpresently more fully appear.

The attaching plate 16 is provided with a I central' aperture 1 7, of smaller diameter than the aperture .ilflof the horn top, and is dished', as at 18, in surrounding relation to said aper- Y ture' 'and in correspondance to the dishing vof thel inner wall Loffthe groove 15, the under side-'ofthe wallgof'this dished portionv 18" thecentral portion ofthe horn top to form constituting. an upper' ball raceportion 19. An annular groove 20 is formed in the plate of'slightly larger diameter thany the periphery of the horn top, and forms a circular boss'` f at the under side, which in the assembled rela-H tion projects downwardly, outwardly' of the periphery of thet horn,.to. restrict the spac ing ofthe hornand plate. Holes 21 are provided yinthe corners of the plate-forsecuring the same-by screws toi the furniture; Y' -1 20 upon the balls.

The balls 22 are disposed in the ball-.race groove 15 of the horn top in interposed relation between the horn and the plate, the balls engaging the under surface of the plate 16 f and the ball race portion 19 thereof.

The plate and horn are assembled by means of a center pin or stud 23 ha Ting a head 2l at its lower end, the stud being rotatably engaged in the aperture 1li with the head loosely disposed inthe under dished portion of the horn, while areduced extension 25 at theY upper end is engaged in the aperture 1i' of the base plate, the latter being seated on the shoulder formed by theextension 25 and secured to the stud by heading thel extension over, as at 26. Y

While the stud holds the parts in assembled relation the balls are so arranged that substantially the entire load and sidethrust is rlhe close relation ofthe horn and base plate provide a compact structure without increase iii the height of the caster assembly, and permits of avery short center stud at a point where the leverage strain thereon is reduced to a minimum, and

the chances of loosening from this cause thereb G'reatl diminished. Y

Y e Y In F ig. 5 I have shown a modified forni,

- in which the plate 16 is of circular form andV has a pintle`27, for insertion in a socket in the furniture, integrally formed with an assembling stud. AThe pintle is provided with a flange 28 at its base which is seated in the dished portion 18 ofthe plate, and has a stud extension 29 engaged through the aperture 17 and secured to the plate by swaging over thev metal, as at 30. rIhe stud isthen rotatably engaged in the aperture ll. of the horn,

which is of the'saine size as the aperture 17 40 in this embodiment, and a reduced extension adjacent said marginal portion slightly less vthan the ball diameter, and an upwardly dished centrally apertured annular portion inwardly of the ball race having its upper surface in a plane below the upper surface of said marginal portion. and providing a Vspace at the upper side of the horn top inywardly dishedannular portion, and a center" stud rotatably connectingv saidhorn top to said plate.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, this 20th day of April, 1929. y N f WALTERl F. IIEROLD.

31 of the stud has a washer 32 engaged thereon and securedby heading over the end of YtheV s extension, as at 33. Y

I have illustrated and described preferred 45.-and satisfactory embodimentsof my invene tion, but it will be obvious that changes may be made therein, within the spiritl and scope i' thereof, as defined in the appended claim.:

Having thus described my invention, what 1I claim and desire to secure by Letters vPat'- ent is:

In a caster, a floor engagingelemeiit including a wheel, a sheet metal horn having a rotatably carrying said 'wheel anfd Vdwnturned rim portions continuous with said side top portion, a' pair ofspaced. side portionsV portions and extending betweenthem and dee' fining a lateral space at the under side of the horn top, said horn top comprising =an an- 0 nular marginalportion'adjacent'said rim-and side portions, a downwardly'pressed circular ball-racev portion inwardlv of and'Y ad] acent said marginal portion and VVdisposedin said' lateralyspace, the'fuppersurface of the ballV Y 65.3race portionbeing of adepthzat, its outer-sidev 

